Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX, USA
| [b] Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing, Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Dennis G. O’Connell, PT, Ph.D., DPT, FACSM, Hardin-Simmons University, Department of Physical Therapy, 2200 Hickory Street, Abilene, TX 79698, USA. E-mail: oconnell@hsutx.edu.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Novice nurses, occupational and physical therapist’s injury rates are alarming. OBJECTIVE:To test for differences in peak elbow flexion forces (PEFF) by profession using different forearm positions. METHODS:Entry-level RN, OT, and PT students performed 3-repetitions of standing PEFF in forearm supination, pronation, and neutral. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA determined the forearm position with the greatest PEFF. A one-way ANOVA assessed differences in PEFF between professions. The alpha level was set at p≤0.05 for all analyses. RESULTS:Thirty 30 RN, 25 OT, and 30 PT students (x = 23.27 + /–3.29 yrs.) were studied. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant difference in PEFF between positions (F(2,168) = 144.3, p < 0.0001). A significant (p < 0.0001) pairwise comparison revealed neutral produced the greatest (28.15 + /–12.64 kg) and pronation the least PEFF (17.27 + /–7.40). PEFF was significantly different between position by profession (supination: F(2,82) = 10.14, p < 0.0001; pronation: F(2,82) = 10.33, p < 0.0001; neutral: F(2,82) = 13.39, p < 0.0001). PTs were significantly stronger than OTs and RN students in all forearm positions (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS:Neutral PEFF was greatest and PT students demonstrated greater PEFF than OT and RN students.
Keywords: Health professional, lift, functional strength
